Last night, when we went to bed, we set our clocks ahead one hour as we began Daylight Saving Time. The annual ritual of setting our clocks ahead one hour — or, in the fall, setting our clocks back one hour — should be coupled with another annual rite: checking and/or replacing smoke detector batteries.
Some smoke detectors are hardwired and the owner does not need to worry about batteries. Most, though, are battery operated. As a matter of fact, there are some hardwired detectors that also employ the use of batteries to provide coverage should there be a power outage.
Not all detectors emit a noise when a battery is dying. Even if they do, we might not be in the house when the battery goes. That is why a best practice is to replace the batteries in smoke detectors — and carbon monoxide detectors — annually. To think that something so inexpensive could lead to the cause of death. Some people do not check their detectors and, when a fire happens, do not get warned in time.
We have turned our clocks forward an hour. That is a clear signal that spring is on the way. Do you want to be alive to enjoy it? Change your batteries.
